Page 93 of A Soul to Guide

Someone had to care that they were alone to be bothered by such a thing. Still, it didn’t mean, in some moments of her life, the space next to her didn’t feel a little empty.

That was, until she lost her sight. Then people became overwhelming.

That’s why she’d adored Cykran. He wasn’t like the other Elysians. He didn’t get under her skin, didn’t pester her, and if it wasn’t for his breathing, she’d barely notice his existence.

I guess I kind of feel that way about Merikh.

Travelling with someone for so long would have bothered her by now, but she wasn’t bothered by him at all. She had no filter with him, was as flamboyant as she wanted to be, and he’d just grunt. He never stopped her, didn’t seem to care to, and it just made her... worse – which made her want to laugh at herself.

Laugh, until she realised she’d never, not once, been aroused by Cykran.

I really do hope he tries to spank me.The big goof had absolutely no idea what he’d just offered.

Raewyn had only ever been spanked once in her life by a sexual partner, and they went about it so awkwardly it had sapped all the fun from the moment. A light tap, then he checked to make sure she was okay, worried he’d hurt her when that was the point.

She’d almost yawned and fallen asleep.

Raewyn didn’t want to be treated like she was made of glass, and yet most of her partners had done so. Everyone seemed to think she was some kind of innocent saint.

She hadn’t necessarily done a lot of kinky stuff, although she had done some. She wanted to try new things and see if they were things she was into, experiment with her sexuality. It was hard to do that with a partner who she worried would feel pressured to try for her benefit. What was a little spanking and biting between friends?

Rolling her eyes, she sighed.Apparently, that’s asking for too much.

She didn’t mind a little pain; although she didn’t want to mar her near-perfect skin, but there was plenty to do in between that.

A little thankful the wind was brushing towards them rather than from behind, which was likely stopping her scent from wafting towards him, Raewyn sidled a smidge closer.

I wonder what it would be like if he stopped putting up walls and just let things happen.Would Raewyn grow bored because it was no longer exciting, or would his overbearing personality have her wanting more?

Did she want that?

One minute, there was a cut of dread across her chest at the thought of being intimate with him again, and the next, anticipation. Another, hurt when he could be so ‘honest,’ and then thankful he didn’t want to coddle her feelings. He was mean in one moment, and more considerate than most people the next.

Did she want him to be kinder, more affectionate, perhaps even more sensual? Or stay being a big brute?

He was different from her, from humans, from Demons, from anything she’d ever known. Even just the large space he took up felt different. Overbearing, and somehow warm.

Maybe I shouldn’t think about things I may not want.

At a rustle of leaves, she knew he’d moved a low-hanging branch. Her ears twitched, and she ducked to stop it from whacking her in the face when he let it go. It whooshed above her head, a few leaves falling in her hair.

His dark chuckle warmed her, as though he’d known all along that she’d dodge it. Was he testing her reflexes or just trying to distract her?

She answered him with a conniving smile.

Do it again and watch what happens.Her head and heart were all over the place, and she was happy to fight dirty against a bully.

If he was throwing up walls, she’d make it her goal to climb over them until he was truly on the back foot.

Currently, she wasn’t even trying.He better watch out.

It hadn’t taken long for Raewyn to be carted through the forest once again by Merikh locking her to his side or cradling her. The closer they got to the Veil, the quicker he rushed them.

Considering the forest’s occupants, getting closer and then into the safety of his supposed ward didn’t sound like a terrible idea. She was a sitting duck out here.

They had been attacked once upon their approach, but Merikh disposed of the Demon swiftly and they moved on. She experienced guilt over its death, since it was likely her scent it’d been chasing.

Knowing they could truly become a person, that they could change and be good, meant it felt almost... wrong.

---